My Forbidden Barbarian Mate

The Alpha

Jade

“You must be really lucky. I need some of that luck." Tiffany says as soon as Jackson steps out of the room.

"It's not luck you need, but connections," I gesture to prove my point.

She sits up in her bed and leans towards me. We are facing each other, and I recognize that eager look. "I need some of those connections."

"The future queen is my best friend, and you can say I am lucky that we are both in the same pack now. I honestly didn't know she traveled here when we last separated," I explain as briefly as possible.

I don't like everyone knowing my business. I love to keep it minimal so that people won't have anything against me. Call it a work habit.

She sulks, and her shoulders sag. "I guess it's both then." She leans her head on her palms, and I c***k a small smile at how cute the scene is.

"I wish I could help you, Tiff, but with a crime like yours..." I pause, not wanting to offend her.

But she wouldn't poison me, right? The reason I agreed to eat with her was that she was eating too.

I jump into the shower and, after I pee, well, you know, a lady has to do her business. Finally, out, I put on the clothes Jackson brought me. I smell a bit better, but it won't cover the marks on my skin. These past few days have been horrible. The prisoners have been trying hard to pick on me.

"I need some info about this alpha. What is he like?" I ask Tiff as I put on the sweatpants that surprisingly fit me.

"Oh, him. He is strict with his rules. And no one is supposed to break the biggest rule in the pack: having a mate."

"He is just nothing but a jerk."

"And why doesn't he let us have trials before putting us in this prison?" I fire off another question at her.

"You know how alphas operate. They believe each other's words and usually take it as law. They don't normally question the decisions of the other alpha. And Alpha Maddox hates law offenders; it's why he never shows up here."

"He is just a jerk!" I exclaim, not caring if anyone else hears me. I am already in prison. What else can they do to me? "I am going to pump some sense into his mind."

A knock comes at the door, and I already know who it is. Jackson shows up, and we walk out of the prison. On the way, two prisoners fight badly, and the blood ends up on my shirt. This can't get any worse. I actually like this shirt.

Jackson chooses to give me his silence and escorts me to Ella's cottage. We spend some quality time together, and I hide the truth of my rejection from her. It makes me feel bad, but I don't want her to know yet, not when she is going through a crisis of her own. I know Athena and I will heal.

Ella informs me about a game night at Sebastian's home, a wizard found in the pack. After I change into better clothes, we leave the cottage.

Finally, we reach the door swinging open. My whole attention is drawn to the man standing at the door. He exudes power, power that signifies he is the alpha of the pack.

Athena shifts inside me, but she doesn't say anything. There is something about him that's so different, and his scent also calls to me. It's as if he is my mate. But how can I have another mate, especially someone from a pack where mates are forbidden?

"So you came with the troublemaker," he smirks.

Did he just call me a troublemaker? Rich coming from him, when he is the jerk who forbids wolves from having mates. Mates are everything to us. My mate rejected me, and he must be my second chance mate. I hold back a wince. Athena is still confused inside me, and it's hard for both of us to make out the truth.

"Who are you calling a troublemaker!" I can't help but yell.

His eyes narrow into a hard glare, as if that would scare me.

"You don't yell at an Alpha like that!"

I scoff. He doesn't know who he is dealing with. I will teach this egoistic alpha a lesson.

"If I am a troublemaker, then you are an egoistic jerk!"

Oh, I didn't just say that. My big mouth is always getting me into trouble.

He growls, fists his large hands, and asks, "Did you just call me an egoistic jerk?"

His eyes widen in astonishment.

Now that I have said it, I can't take it back. I just have to go with the flow. I can't believe I just met my alpha, who is meant to give me a pardon, and we are already shouting at each other. Not forgetting, he might be my second chance mate.

"I believe you heard me right. You are a wolf for a reason," I answer him back.

Ella just watches our bickering while she holds back laughter. I bet she is having the time of her life.

Maddox chuckles and shakes his head. His eyes rake over my body, igniting fire everywhere they touch. The kind of fire that makes me squirm where I am standing. Man, this man is hot. His wine-red eyes hold me captive. I can't help but drown in them a little bit. They are so unique. I have never seen anyone with such eyes before.

I check out the tattoos on his exposed arms, which are packed with muscle. I can only imagine what he looks like when he's naked. We eye f**k each other, but neither of us can say anything, not in the open like this. Our eyes meet, and his flash before he shakes his head. "You know what I have realized? I don't have time for troublemakers."

That nickname that I hate so much. I am no troublemaker. If anything, that sexy hunk of a man standing in front of me will make me a troublemaker.

"It's good you understand."

He looks at me one last time and turns back into the house. Damn, I can't hold myself. My body is still on fire where his eyes touched, and those sexy lips... the things they can do to me.

I can't help but murmur when I also check out his ass. Just as I thought, so tight and perfect. They say, "Get yourself a man with a great ass," and now I see what they mean.

"That ass though, so tight... Damn, he is hot," I say.

Ella rolls her eyes.

"Don't start, please!"

"What?! I am just stating facts. He is hot."

I want to add how much I am attracted to him despite the bad start. And I still need to talk to him.

"And also an egoistic jerk?" she raises a questioning brow at me.

I almost cringe, realizing now that maybe he won't give me what I want because I might be proving a point. But hey, he started it.

I shrug, "Don't mind me."

We enter Seb's home, and it is very cozy. It's everything I didn't expect from the house of a wizard. It's so bright when I expected something dark. Blame it on the many movies I have watched.

We all take our seats, and I choose to sit next to Seb while Ella sits next to her mate, Malik. Maddox throws daggers my way when I steal some glances. Did something crawl up his ass, or maybe he is still upset over the little bicker.

He chooses to cozy up with his popcorn, and when questioned, his reply is, "What? I missed having popcorn during last night's drama. I am not passing up that chance tonight."

He does have a point though, and I can't help but let out a small smile. When his eyes meet mine, I drop the smile instantly.

"I will explain the rules of the game, so pay very close attention. Each of us has six blank cards. Nothing is written on these blank cards. On two cards, you write a 'never have I ever.' On the other four cards, you write a truth on two cards and a dare on the other two. And this here," he flicks his hand, and a bottle of what looks like wine appears on the table, "is for you when you pass. In case you aren't comfortable with the truth you have been asked or the dare, you can drink this very strong liquor that works on all specials. But you only have one chance to pass, so use it wisely. And the other rule is that you are free to use your chance to save someone else," Sebastian explains.

The rules are very clear, and I can tell this is really going to be a fun night. I need some of the popcorn too.

"Oh, Ella, you can't use your magic on this game," Seb adds.

"I wasn't going to anyways. I ain't a cheater."

"Or a troublemaker," Maddox adds, and I glare at him.

He smirks widely while he stuffs some popcorn in his mouth. Oh, if it's trouble he wants, it's trouble he will get.